sand dragging with my 4x4

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I'm entering a competition this weekend that combines a 200ft drag and a slalom course. I'm not sure on what type of surface the drags are on but I don't think it's mud, more likely sand or sand/clay. The slalom is like a combination of short course and trophy truck, and I don't know how wild the jumps are going to be. I'm not too worried about the slalom but I have NO experience with the drags.
I have my short course truck I'm entering, with bone stock 4x4 running gear; 4.0/5-sp m50d/3.73 LSD. I have a choice of 29"x8.5"x15" swampers or 31"x10.5"x15" Baja Claws.
1] Should I be in 4hi for the drags? Or start in 2nd in 4low?
2] Which tire would be best for what surface? I won't know till I get there so I'm bringing both sets but I would like an educated guess.
3] Any thing else I should be aware of or take into consideration?
PS, I won't be checking in too often as I'm still working on the truck.

Thanks,

Richard

 

[swynx]

As you know the swamped will be the lighter tire being smaller but I think the Baja claw will hook up better for sand. Id say 4 hi. 4.0 is pretty quick and you'll top out in 4 low pretty fast.

 

[mud junky]

I do 200ft mud drags with my 2003 ranger. 200ft goes by fast. There is no time to make up for a bad launch, and there is no way you are going to run out of gears before you run out of track even in 4 low. If it was me and I had to do it without test runs, I would run the claws and 4 low, but start in 2nd gear not first.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Thanks for the input. I hope to do some testing at home but afaik there is no test at the track. It's walk the course and then race. I did a couple launchs with the swampers today on a gravel road in 4low. It felt best when I started in second but I'll have to get someone to time me. I marked out 200ft so I will test both tires and methods of launch hopefully tomorrow.
It seemed that the front tires were hopping but the rears didn't. I did build a slapper bar and attached it to the rear pumpkin so maybe that helped but without video or someone to watch......
Thanks again and if anyone else has thoughts feel free to post up.

Richard

 

[mud junky]

What kind of swampers are they and did you get any tire spin on the launch? You are going to want some spinning but not a ton. I would also try it in 3rd with the swampers, and then again with the claws in 2nd. If you launch in 2nd you will most likely have 2 shifts during the drag, so if the swampers spin a little in 3rd that may be your best bet to eliminate a shift. Another thing you can do is air the rear tires down to about 7 psi and keep the fronts closer to 20psi. Airing down the rears will gain you more traction, but by leaving the fronts at a normal air pressure will make the fronts have a slightly bigger rolling circumference. By having a bigger rolling circumference in the front, your front tires will keep the truck pulling is a straight line wile your rear tires are gripping and pushing you forward.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

29"x8.5"x15" super swamper TSL 55#
Gear/Range/Time
1,2,3 / 4lo / 6.31s
2,3,4 / 4lo / 6.31s
2,3,4 / 4lo / 5.81s
1,2,3 / 4hi / 5.75s
1,2,3 / 4hi / 5.54s
2,3, / 4hi / 6.53s missed shift

31"x10.5"x15" M/T Baja Claw 64#

1,2 / 4hi / 5.66s
1 / 4hi / 5.66s stayed in 1st no shift
1,2 / 4hi / 5.50
1,2 / 4hi / 5.53
1,2,3 / 4lo / 6.62
2,3 / 4lo / 5.46
2,3 / 4lo / 5.57
2,3 / 4lo / 5.82
2,3 / 4lo / 5.57

I guess it really depends on track surface and which tire I decide to run. I'm leaning to the swampers as they are lighter but it means an extra shift. I don't want to change tires if I can help it but I'll do what needs doing. Points are combined from slalom and drags.
Thanks for the pointers,
Richard

 

[det107]

Good Luck at the races !!

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Thanks. I'm knocked out of the first round. Slalom next.


Sent from my ST27a using Tapatalk 4 Beta